When I met Lesley & Gregory at Tenaya Lodge for their site tour, I was so happy to hear everything they were using the lodge for! The couple was hosting their destination wedding with the ceremony on the outdoor terrace facing the perfect forest back drop and their reception in the outdoor Pavilion utilizing the large fire pit area and surrounding game zone. It was, in my opinion, the best locations Tenaya had to offer! In addition to the venues, Tenaya would also be hosting both the catering & bar service, and since all of Lesley & Gregory’s family & friends would be traveling in from across the state & the country, the lodge also offered the perfect accommodations as well. I knew their day was setup for success with everything centralized at Tenaya Lodge. And a successful wedding day it was!! From the start, everything was smooth and ahead of schedule. The killer vendor team and organized wedding group was so much the reason for this. Gorgeous drapery & lighting by Sweet Dreams Weddings twinkled under the Pavilion complimenting the gas firepit that hosted s’mores, giant Jenga, count-4, & corn hole games for the guests. A handmade 1000 crane multi-colored origami wall complimented the use of bold colors while balancing against crisp white linens and classic floral arrangements. In leu of a traditional arbor, the couple decided on two standalone topiary style floral arrangements placed on wood logs on either side to allow for the natural forest beauty to truly take hold. Lush greenery was added to the terrace railing to really create a natural look with real greenery in all directions for when they said, “I DO!” Lesley & Gregory also decided against a traditional guest book for a unique Rock Table with river rocks from their home that guests could write messages on and would be displayed in clear vases throughout their home for years to come. It was an amazing day filled with small traditions blended with new that truly spoke of the wonderful couple and their future ahead together.

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When I met Natalie & Ryan at Auto Camp Yosemite in Midpines, CA, I knew their wedding day was going to be a blast! They wanted to keep their event fairly intimate, 40 guests total, so that they could really enjoy their time away with their loved ones. Auto Camp offered the perfect site for both their ceremony & reception as well as had fun on-site accommodations for everyone. Everything from a luxury tent to a full loaded airstream are available to stay in at Auto Camp, which made for a completely unique gathering location for Natalie & Ryan’s traveling group. The close proximity to Yosemite Valley was another plus for the couple, who planned to have their first look at sunrise in the valley followed by a Yosemite photo shoot. The modern meets outdoorsy feel of Auto Camp Yosemite made for a flawless backdrop for the wedding itself! Long modern farm tables paired with black mid-century chairs created a classic modern vibe combined with tall pillar candles and greenery atop white cheesecloth runners. The ceremony was tucked away in a hidden forest that popped beautifully against the wood hexagon arch and wooded benches. It was a gorgeous day perfectly balanced in the beautiful outdoors, but with just the right amount of modern industrial touches of Auto Camp Yosemite!

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Lexi & Aaron were the type of couple that any wedding vendor would just love to work with! So laid back, relaxed, and truly easy to work with, they made me want to go above & beyond however I could because they were so sweet & thankful at every turn. Lexi & Aaron both had so much going on outside of wedding planning, she was deep in her master’s degree and he about to graduate from the fire academy, that they wanted their wedding day to be as easy on them as possible. The couple lived right down the street from their venue, Toca Madera Winery, which made it easier on them and local guests alike. The gorgeous gardens at Toca painted the perfect backdrop to their amazing spring wedding day! Lush palm trees, stunning rose bushes, and other Mediterranean plants & florals made the vineyard on the rolling hillside feel like we were a million miles away from home. Lexi’s wedding dress, an amazing A-line cinderella style wedding dress with so many layers, stunned against the rich landscape. Simple touches like wine barrel tables, wood round centerpieces, and a simple yet striking tiered cake with pops of floral tied in with the scene impressively as well. It was a day truly special for two amazing people and it ended all the same with a glitzy sparkler send off!

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